"I really like that area," Dalia said. "I think it’s a diverse community, and I have a huge customer base from out west — from Philly, Hamilton, Robbinsville, Freehold."

Broad Street has 15 employees, and sales are growing 20 percent a year. And it has developed a loyal customer base with made-to-order doughnuts; its Instagram page has nearly 100,000 followers.

For a part of New Jersey that is surrounded by Dunkin' Donuts on virtually every corner, it has managed to carve out a niche that seems to hit home with consumers looking for authenticity and an experience that can't be found online.

Dalia, 45, was operating Federico's Pizza in Point Pleasant Beach when she decided she needed a change. She thought the Shore needed freshly made doughnuts. She tucked the idea away and watched as Uncle Dood's Donuts opened to raves in Toms River.

"I (thought about it for) a few years and was scared," Dalia said. "Once I let go of the fear, I felt really good about the idea. I felt really strongly it was not being done and I was onto something."

Dalia took the leap four years ago and opened Broad Street in an Ocean Township strip center, sure to be certified kosher to attract the region's Jewish community. Watch a video at the top of this story on how Broad Street attracts customers who keep kosher.

The shop offers 34 types of doughnuts and daily specials that it advertises each morning on social media.

Doughnuts from Broad Street Dough Co. in the Oakhurst section of Ocean Township will be sold during Shore Cake Supply’s second annual Professional Bake Sale, a fundraiser for The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. The sale will take place Oct. 25 at the Ocean Township store.
COURTESY OF BROAD STREET DOUGH CO.

It will feature enough room for tables and chairs and an expanded coffee selection. And she told her three children — Ariana, 18, Federico, 13, and Antonio, 11 — to get ready to tighten their bootstraps while the new store gets up and running.